Career
Leeke's father was Samuel Leeke, a deputy lieutenant of Hampshire, and his brother was William Leeke, known for his reminiscences of his service as an ensign at the Battle of Waterloo. His godfather was Lord Henry Paulet.
Leeke entered the navy in 1803, steadily rising through the ranks until reaching the rank of commander on 1814. In 1818, while in command of HMS Myrmidon he captured a Portuguese slave-vessel, and freed Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who later became Bishop of Niger. He was given command of HMS Queen, in which he served as flag-captain in to Admiral Sir John West, in 1845 and of HMS San Josef in 1847 and, having been promoted to Rear Admiral in 1854, he became Third Naval Lord in 1859. His promotion to vice-admiral came in 1860, and to admiral in 1864.
In 1859, he was elected as Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Dover.
Read more about this topic: Henry John Leeke
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye.”
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“He was at a starting point which makes many a man’s career a fine subject for betting, if there were any gentlemen given to that amusement who could appreciate the complicated probabilities of an arduous purpose, with all the possible thwartings and furtherings of circumstance, all the niceties of inward balance, by which a man swings and makes his point or else is carried headlong.”
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“My ambition in life: to become successful enough to resume my career as a neurasthenic.”
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